Automobile lock



C. POHL.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION mm mmzs. 1920.

1 402 955 Patented Jan. 10, 1922-.

, mi INVEN CHARLES as r avatar CHARLES EOHL, OF LOS ANGI ILES CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN 0. KING, OF LOES ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmtgnted 19 143,22

Application filed March 25, 1920. Serial No. 368,600.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES POHL, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los r'ingeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lock and particularly pertains to a lock which is especially applicable for use in looking the throttle and spark levers of auto vehicles against movement whereby unauthorized use of the vehicle may be inhibited.

It is the object of this invention to pro vide a clasp which is so constructed that it may be locked in engagement with the control levers of an auto-vehicle in such manner as to hold the levers in their advanced positions and prevent operation thereof.

Another object is to provide a clasp of the above character which embodies a pair of hingedly connected jaw members so fashioned that they may be readily locked together astride a pair of pivoted control levers to lock said levers against relative movement and which is so formed as to abut against the segment over which the levers are movable to retain the clasp firmly in place and also cover the levers close to the segments so that they cannot be readily engaged by tools between the clasp and segments. 1

A further object is to provide a construction in a clasp of the type specified whereby the side portions thereof cannotbe readily pried apart by inserting a. wedge therebetween.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the clasp showing it as applied.

Figures 2 and 3 are views in elevation of the jaws of the clasp as separated and showing the inner faces thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail in cross section as seen on the line l-4- of Figure 1.

More specifically 5 and 6 indicate the spark and gas control levers respectively of an auto-vehicle which are pivoted at 7 and 8 on a bracket 9 carried by the steering column of the vehicle; the levers being bent so that their outer ends extend at opposite angles. The bracket 9 is formed with a pair of segments 10 and 11 arranged concentric with the spaced pivotal mountings of the levers 5 and 6 and over which the lovers are movable; the segments connecting at their inner ends and forming a recess 12 at their point of intersection. The levers are adapted to be disposed so that their inner portions will extend substantially in alignment with each other, and when so arranged occupy a retracted position, and are adapted to be moved to extend substantiallv parallel with each other as shown in Figure 1 into an advanced position. When the levers are disposed in their advanced positions the internal combustion engine controlled thereby cannot be started by reason of the throttle being wide open when the gas lever is fully advanced thereby deliv-. erlng excess gas to the engine which ordinarily is not explosive, and also because the ignition spark controlled by the lever 5is thrown out of proper timing, as is well known in auto-vehicle operations.

I In carrying out my invention I provide a clasp 14 for locking the levers together in their advanced positions which clasp embodies a pair of jaws 15 and 16 connected together at one end by a hinge 17 and adapted to be swung on the hinge to an open position so that they may be placed astride the levers; the jaws being of such length as to extend over the advanced levers, and connected together at their outer ends. A look 18 of any suitable construction is provided on the outer end of the jaw 16 and is adapted to be engaged with a keeper 19 on the other jaw.

As a means for engaging the levers between the jaws so as to prevent their being moved and inhibit movement of the clasp therein, the adjacent faces of the jaws are formed with diverging or oblique channels 20-20 and 2121 which channels extend diagonally across the jaws 15 and 16 in such manner that the channels 20 and 21 on the jaw 15 will register with the channels 20 and 21 on the jaw 16 when the clasp is closed, these diagonal channels being adapted to encompass the Outer angular portions of the levers at a point adjacent to the segments.

The side of the clasp from which the chan nels diverge is formed with a pair of concave arcuate faces 22 and 23 adapted to conclose against the segments and prevented from being moved out of engagement therewith by reason of the oppositely diverging levers being engaged between the jaws which cooperates with interlocking oi the clasp and. segments inholding the levers against movement in their advanced position and thereby effectively locking the vehicle against unauthorized use.

As a means for preventing the insertion of a wedge or similar tool between the jaw members by which they might be pried apart, the jaw 16 is formed with a marginal flange or lip adapted to overlap the jaw 15 when the clasp is closed, thus breaking the olnt between the-jaws as shown in Figure 4.

The operation of the invention-is apparent from the foregoing, it being seen that when the clasp is locked in engagement with the levers, as shown in Figure 1, they, and the clasp will be securely held against movement.

While I" have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth but may employ such equivalents and modifications as come within the scope;

1 ,aoaes-s vanced position, a pair of hingedly con-.

nected jaws having an, edge formed to conform, to and'abut against the'sideof the segments and having a projection extending into a depression at the intersection of said segments,-said jaws having a )air of regi: tering diverging channels on tieir adjacent faces adapted to encompass the obliquely extending levers, and means for locking the outer ends of the jaws together;

2. In a lock, the combination with a pair of intersecting segments, a pair of spark and gas control levers pivoted concentric with said segments to move thereover and having obliquely extending outer end portions diverging relative to each' other when the levers are adjacent each other in a fully advanced position, a pair of hingedly connected jaws having an edge formed to abut against the segments; said jaws having a pair of registering diverging channels on their adjacent faces adapted to encompass the obliquely extending levers, and means for locking the outer ends of the jaws together.

,eHAn -ns Porn-J. 1 

